The Department of Africana Studies invites all interested students to apply for the following awards presented annually by the Department.

Hammon-Wheatley Creative Arts Award

Honoring the lives of Jupiter Hammon (1711- ca. 1806) and Phillis Wheatley (ca. 1753-1784), this Department of Africana Studies award seeks to recognize excellence in the literary, performing, media, industrial, and heritage arts. Hammon and Wheatley were two of this nation’s earliest poets of African American descent. Awards are open to graduating seniors and graduate students for an original creation in poetry, dance, music, film, theatre, graphic design, and/or folk art related to the Diaspora. Faculty, staff, and students may nominate candidates from the Notre Dame student body by completing the nomination form found at the link below.

Wright, Flint-Hamilton & Mason Award

The Wright, Flint-Hamilton, and Mason Award, also known as the Directors’ Award, is open to graduating seniors and graduate students. The award honors three prior directors of the African and African American Studies Program whose leadership enabled AFST to contribute substantially to the Notre Dame and greater Michiana communities. The award recognizes excellence in research on a topic exploring social, political, economic, and/or cultural aspects of the African and African American Diaspora.Submissions should be academic papers on a topic related to African, African American, or African Diaspora life, broadly construed of at least 10 pages in length. Faculty, staff, and students may nominate candidates from the Notre Dame student body by completing the nomination form found at the link below.

Africana Studies Award for Community Spirit and Service

The Africana Studies Award for Community Spirit and Service honors outstanding academic achievement and community service by an undergraduate or graduate student. Those nominated must have a grade point average of 3.0 or better and be currently enrolled as juniors, seniors, or graduate students. Faculty, staff, and students may nominate candidates from the Notre Dame student body by completing the nomination form found at the link below.

Africana Studies Academic Freedom Award

The Academic Freedom Award recognizes the contribution of a student, faculty, staff member, and/or an organization that has gone above and beyond the call of duty to preserve the academic integrity and freedom of Our Lady’s University as noticed by a faculty member or affiliated faculty member of the Africana Studies Department. Nominations are complete by completing the nomination form found at the link below.